Following the recent release of the v2.0 patch for the PSP (see our previous coverage), Sony has now launched a video download service for the handheld in Japan. The service is called P-TV, which stands for Portable-TV, and it uses Sony's own ISP, called So-net. Sony is treating this as a slow roll-out service, with only trailers and independent films available to begin with. Premium content is expected to appear in the form of episodic programs (e.g., popular anime), movies, and music. Offering content that you download is a sound idea and works well for TV episodes and music; movies, on the other hand, are a more difficult prospect for a couple of reasons. First, they are big downloads so there is an issue with actually getting them to fit on the PSP–they may be a PC-only download to counter that, however. Second, allowing for downloadable movies would surely cut into Sony's UMD film market, which it is trying to push. You could say Sony wins both ways, but it is a bit early to offer a second way of getting films for the PSP when people are still getting used to the first one. It's an interesting new direction for gaming handhelds, though, and one we might actually see in the West eventually. Thanks to Prodigious Gaming for the heads-up.

USER COMMENTS 14 comment(s)

I wonder…(9:25am EST Fri Jul 29 2005)how many of those downloads fit on their 32 MB cards that come with the PSP? I also wonder what the monthly rate of this so-net is?

seems like they tied up all loose ends… sony fanboys rejoice… sony just dug deeper in their pockets. – by

They can dig all they want…(2:40pm EST Fri Jul 29 2005)The PSP is a product. The video content is a product. A product is something someone produced through their own time, effort, and capital.

If I want oranges, for example, I expect to pay the grower, the distributor, and the grocer for working to supply me with those oranges.

So why is this concept so difficult to grasp, when the product is not oranges?

I say: DIG, SONY, DIG! You've produced a product that I found worth every penny. Now that the entertainment content services are getting rolling for this thing, I definitely look forward to spending my hard-earned cash on it.

– by Greg

eh(11:50am EST Sat Jul 30 2005)They can dig into someone elses pocket, i have no intention of paying 300 dollars to get a portable gaming system, not this close to PS3 and nintendo revolution. The PSP is pretty, but its just that pretty, like a Lexus, doesn't mean im shelling out 50 grand for something i can get ina different model cheaper. DS or the next gameboy. Sony Digs deep with everything, but i have still yet to see something i “HAD to HAVE” i even waited to get a PS2 till it was 150, i can do the same for the PSP. Even then, i won't ever buy over prices UMD's, i don't want a movie on that small of a screen and only capable of playing on my PSP? fuck that. Same with their over priced memory cards. the PSP should be called Playstation Propritary, you gotta shell out 4-500 dollars just to get enough memory and games to make the thing even remotly worth while, no thanks, ill get a PDA and ROM's. thank you

DWGII – by Supes

re: Supes(3:04am EST Sun Jul 31 2005)damn dude you're, how can i say this, wrong about the psp. i've got one, and i updated it to 2.00 it's excellent, and this is just the japanese version. i expect the US version to be better and to have resolved memory issues. i understand what you're saying about the costs of it, but, it's beautiful, plays beautiful movies and games, and the internet on it has allowed to visit all sites minus the flash, but as i said, hopefully with the US version it'll better. what you need to understand about this is that the psp is comperable to systems. it DESTROYS the gameboy ds. i've had one, and it was bullshit. dude it's been about 11 months since the release of the ds and there are still only like 20 games, 5 of which are bearable. the games on the psp are direct ports from consoles. the only difference is the graphics, thats they are like 1 and 1/2 as powerful as the ps2. sometimes you just have to spend a little bit to get what you want. – by jspeed04

is it not good enough(8:30am EST Sun Jul 31 2005)I guess sony cant let the psp compete on just playing games cos they know they would lose against the DS so it has to do all the other stuff.

Donít get me wrong the psp is a great piece of kit but you cant really class it as a handheld games machine, I know that is part of what it does but it is more of a new electronic entertainment device, out there all on its own then something to compete with the DS.

And I know all you sony fanboys will thing I saying this cos my DS doesnít do every thing the psp canÖ well I have both! I use my DS of great original games and my psp for movies and music but not remakes of not very good ps2 games.I say get both but donít compare both.

kpaz – by Kpaz

compare (8:30am EST Sun Jul 31 2005)I guess sony cant let the psp compete on just playing games cos they know they would lose against the DS so it has to do all the other stuff.

Donít get me wrong the psp is a great piece of kit but you cant really class it as a handheld games machine, I know that is part of what it does but it is more of a new electronic entertainment device, out there all on its own then something to compete with the DS.

And I know all you sony fanboys will thing I saying this cos my DS doesnít do every thing the psp canÖ well I have both! I use my DS of great original games and my psp for movies and music but not remakes of not very good ps2 games.I say get both but donít compare both. – by Kpaz

awesome(1:56am EST Sun Aug 14 2005)alright ….. anyone who says ds is better than psp is just plain stupid im on my psp right now the net is awesome quick and very advanced i love it & fuck off u haters …………… go sony/psp!!!!! – by svenster

well….(6:15pm EST Thu Aug 25 2005)The PSP is absouloutly amazing I have to agree, but I always have a feeling like something is missing. I mean it's really cool because you can update to a live-TV PSP, instead of buying the white one for $200. But still it feels like there's a tiny detail missing making it 100% perfect. I don't know thats just me. Me and my feelings. Like if you saving for a Nintendo Revolution, fine. But I gurantee in one year there will be something better from nintendo. It's basically like Mario they have so many games and they always improve by a stinkin %, you only notice that something is good after 3 years. Whats up with that!!!So, people asking whats better PSP or DS and I say…You can't really compare them.They Say Huh??Listen(read) PSP is revolutionary PS2, can do basically what a PS2 does and a little more.When a DS is a complitly new generation…I mean from and SP to a DS, that's a HUGE STEP!!I reasearched a lot about this, but call me crazy, the DS is not a gameboy generation, it's a Gamecube Generation.I mean here's the biggest clue. NINTENDO DS, why not Gamboy DS.Well a DS is sort'o a mini-gamecube.I mean nice work with the touch-screen, but if you guys buy the DS the touch screen will still break no matter how many protective screens you put on it.Research this DS Touchsreen, if you find the site that tells you what model of touchscreen it is you'll run to the store as fast as you can to return it. It is the lowest touchscreen for PDA's or anything like that on the market.Picto-Chat it's cool….But PSP is getting a program that's compatible whith every single Instant Messenger. 50 feet of Picto-ChatorInstant Messenger where you can talk with anyone thats online…But here's the tricky part, PSP is online….You don't have a signal everywhere.But when Metroid comes out for DS the first update comes out too, 100 feet of Picto-Chat….WOA!!! NOT! who gives a shit!You can compare them money-wise, graphics-wise, even store-wise, but you can't compare them in total!! – by -Game Master

lemme think(9:25pm EST Thu Oct 20 2005)very well said game master. i would like to say, i have a psp, 2.5 and i luv it, but y would you wanna picto chat 50 feet away!! i mean u can just walk over there and talk to the person. and can anyone tell me 1 game where you just NEED a touch screen. – by crait

does nintendo ds have a special pc download to use sum wireless things(2:16pm EST Tue Jan 24 2006)i want to know my subject. – by chris

DS or PSP(9:50pm EST Mon Oct 02 2006)you may ask which is better. Well acording to Gameing experts on TV {no it wasn't a commical it was a real gaming expert} they all said they would rather have a DS. I personally like the DS cos i like the games better like phantom hour glass that is coming out. – by moman